Thomas white tail tip twitched back and forth as he waited for the mail to leave the ship.  He could hear the sounds of the dock workers as they ran to a fro catching ropes and tying them to the dock. Stacks of wooden crates of all sizes lined the dock ready to board the boat when it was emptied.  He had snuck down to Sanquine Cove hopefully without being seen.  He had been practicing after all.  The loud thunk of the gangplank was music to his black ears.  Finally! He started to dance in place but remembered at the last moment that he was not supposed to draw attention to himself. So he sat still as a rock.  The dock workers were starting to board the ship and bring out the crates full of goods. Some he noticed immediately were picked up by other waiting colonists while others were placed to the side for them to be delivered later.  He waited for the crates that had been sitting on the docks to be loaded on the boat.  He started noticing that the dock hands were casting glances his way.  Maybe he wasn't being as sneaky as he thought he was.  It was then that he saw her.  She was a beautiful sleek looking Reef Belemoid. A scar graced the side of her left cheek.  In her hand was a small silver box.  This is what Thomas had been waiting for.  He waited till she had made it down the gangplank and as soon as her clawed front food touched the ground he was by her side.

"Did you bring it?"  Thomas asked with glee.

She startled for a moment then cracked a grin.  "So you're the one that she said to bring this too.”

She laughed a little. "I think you have a long way to go before you become one of us.  But if you work hard I am sure you will become great!" She bent down closer to him and in a whisper she said "Now she says that any great thief needs to learn the use of these.  " She shoved the silver box into his waiting clawed paw. And walked off.

Thomas looked at the box.  It wasn't that big and he was tempted to open it right then and there but there were eyes watching him now and he didn't want anyone to know.  It was bad enough that people had seen the exchange.  He had not planned that out very well. 

He placed the box in a satchel he was wearing and started to head home.  He passed lots of stores on his way out until something in the window caught his eye.  Just one little stop wouldn't hurt, and might actually help.  He started to enter when he felt someone brush up against him. He caught a glimpse of white and stripes of black.  He immediately checked his bag.  The box was gone! He quickly glanced around and noticed a white tipped tail disappear around the corner of the next shop.  

Thomas ran after it.  His long grey claws clicking against the ground. 

“Excuse me. “ he said as he stumbled into a Tsabhua as he ran passed. 

He turned the corner just in time to see the same tail tip disappear around another corner.

Thomas raced after it. And found himself in a rather dark ally the the only place on the cove that was not just tents.  At the end of the alley was a large Belemoid.  White and black in color.  With bands of black  running down the white tail.

“Well, well.  You are a persistent little guy aren’t you. “  The Belemoid said with a sneer.  The sneer turned into a grin.  

“Names Belleron. What I want to know is why such a little guy like you wants a box like this.” Belleron held up the stolen silver box by the tip of his black claws.

Thomas’s tail twitched.  That was HIS box.  “That’s mine!” he growled out. He jumped for it but Belleron just held it up higher.  

“Do you even know what is in this box?”  He asked with a chuckle. Thomas was now seething.

“No.” he said with clenched teeth.  “I haven’t had a chance to open it.”

“Well there is no time like the present.”  Belleron lowered the box and handed it over.  Thomas hesitated a moment unsure if this was a joke.  First the Belemoid stole the box and now he is just handing it over? 

“Thank you.” He stammered.  He stood there waiting unsure as to what to do now. 

“Well, are you going to open it?” Belleron asked.  “Or should I?” He moved as if he was going to take it back.

Thomas quickly opened it before the black and white Belemoid could get any closer.  Inside lay 3 very thin rods. “ Those are some pretty nice lock picks you got there. Of course mine are better.  But these will do any novice thief proud.”   He picked one up and held it up to his eye.  “ Yes siree, very nice.  Now the question is, do you know how to use one?”

Thomas could only shake his head no. 

“Well there is as I always say. No time like the present.  This here door is locked.  And I have missed placed my lockpicks. Temporarily of course.  I will get them back. But the point is I need this here door open and you have the only lockpicks around.  I can teach you how to use them and I can get inside.  It’s a win win.  Well, except for whoever owns this here house. “ Here he patted the wall.  “Well what do you say?  You want a lesson in lock picking?”

Thomas didn’t have to think long.  “Sure.”  He almost handed over the box to Belleron.  “But can you show me first how to pick the right one?”

Belleron chuckled “Sure kid. Bring the box over here. “ 

Belleron was a great teacher.  He told Thomas how to tell the right size of picks for the locks and he showed him first how to unlock it.  And then he relocked the door and had Thomas try.  It took Thomas quite a while till he heard the tell tale click.  But he got the door unlocked.  

Eager to see what was inside Thomas opened the door and peered inside.  There was absolutely nothing.  The ground was bare, the shelving along the walls was empty and the dust and cobwebs showed that it had been like that for quite some time. 

“Hey Belleron there’s nothing in here-) Thomas trailed off.  Belleron was nowhere to be seen.  He seemed to have vanished out of thin air.  Thomas quietly closed the door. He heard the lock click back into place.  Strange.

But he didn’t dwell on it for long.  He could now get into places he had been wanting to.  And when he got grounded he would be able to leave whenever he wanted.  He glanced up at the sky and realized how dark it had gotten.  If he didn’t hurry he would shirley get grounded.  But then again it would be a perfect time to practice his new skills. He hurried home but not too fast. After all a new skill takes practice to master.